AP Government: Chapter 12 and 13-Citizen Beliefs and Public Opinion Polls

political socialization

The process by which a political opinion is developed; begins as soon as someone can form an opinion on something

party identification

The political party one associates with

straw poll

Simple, non-scientific tallies of opinion on a topic

sample

A group of people meant to represent a large group

universe

The set of people a particular poll is to represent

random sample

Every single member of a universe must have an equal chance of selection for the poll

random digit dialing

Calls possible numbers in a given area until enough people respond to establish a sample

stratification

Assuring a balance of demographics in a poll

margin of error

An amount allowed for miscalculation/change in circumstances in polling...Good polls try to keep this to within +/- 3%

sampling error

A mistake in a statistical analysis of a poll due to the non-representative nature of the sample taken

push polling

Polling with ulterior motives...not concerned with gathering data, but rather instilling a message with the poll respondent

tracking poll

Ask people the same questions to see if opinion changes over time

exit polls

Conducted outside the voting place after one has voted...used to predict election results and draw demographic statistical data often for use by the major news networks in their election night reporting

focus groups

Small groups of citizens (10-40) gathered to hold conversations about issues/conditions

approval ratings

The percentage of respondents who approve of a person/program communicated to an opinion poll

liberal

Allowing the government to flexibly expand beyond established constraints...modern-day proponents believe in government staying out of social-moral issues while taking a more active role in the economy

conservative

Those who follow tradition and have reverence for authority...modern-day proponents believe in greater government involvement in regulating social-moral issues while staying out of economic affairs as much as possible

libertarian

Those who oppose government intervention or regulation in both social-moral issues and the economy

populist

Primarily Protestants following fundamental Christian ideas...modern-day proponents for example would be likely to support increased prayer in public schools while also supporting a higher minimum wage and a solid welfare system

progressive

Believe in workers' rights over corporate rights and believe the wealthier classes should pay a much larger percentage of taxes than they currently do.

saliency

The amount of importance attached to something...typically divisive issues are also seen as important to the general population

valence issues

Concerns or policies that are viewed in the same way by people with a variety of ideologies

wedge issues

Concerns or policies that sharply divide the public

moderate

Essentially an acceptance or support of a balance of a degree of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy, while opposing political changes which would result in a significant shift of society either strongly to the left or the right.

Baby Boomers

born between 1946 and 1964; lived during an era of economic prosperity after World War II and though the turbulent 1960s

free enterprise

Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference

Generation X

includes Americans born after the Baby Boomers (between 1962-1982)

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

Individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications

life-cycle analysis

include the variety of physical, social, and psychological changes that people go through as they age

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Millennials

came of voting age at or after teh new millennium

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Silent Generation

born before 1945, are senior citizens born during the Great Depression or as late as the aftermath of World War II.

bandwagon effect

a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

benchmark poll

initial poll on a candidate and issues on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are compared

Entrance Poll

A poll that is taken before voters have cast their votes at the polling stations

representative sample

randomly selected sample of subjects from a larger population of subjects